All in a month’s time, I received six grad party invitations, four invitations to go out for lunch, one invitation to participate in a financial legacy webinar, one invitation to join a small group and several requests to come alongside others in prayer for them needs. These invitations invited me to celebrate achievements, friendship, a learning experience, and fellowship.
I thought about these many invitations, and I was reminded of God’s invitation to humanity, but His is on a much grander scale. Invitations from Jesus and the intentional and positive response of man is a celebration of life, unconditional love, knowledge and wisdom, and everlasting fellowship plus peace that passes all understanding, joy that is overflowing, and life with Him forever.
The Psalmist invites his readers to “Magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness” (Psalm 34:2).
Isaiah (55:1-7) extends an invitation to have abundant life.
Jeremiah (33:3) bids his readers to call to God and He will answer.
Jesus invited Peter, Andrew, James and John with these words, “Come, follow Me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20). Come join me in My Father’s work. Their response? They immediately left everything and followed Jesus.
“Come.” Come walk on the water with Me, Peter. And Peter did, but then he saw the waves and in fear, cried out, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him. (Matthew 14:28-29)
Jesus invites those who are weary and heavy laden to come to Him and He will give rest to the weary. He invites us to learn from Him and to take His yoke upon us for His yoke is easy and His burden is light. (Matthew 11:28).
Jesus’ most somber invitation was to Peter, James, and John on the night He was betrayed. “Watch and pray,” Jesus said. But the three disciples fell asleep. Did an exasperated Jesus shout out, “Wake up!” No, Jesus in His darkest hour had compassion on them because they were weary. He spoke calmly. He loved them unconditionally.
Matthew 22:7, 9, 12-14 and Luke 14:16-22 gives an invitation to the marriage banquet.
Romans 8:28 calls us according to His purpose.
Jesus hand-delivers an invitation when He stands at the door and knocks and anyone who opens the door (believes) will dine with Jesus and He with believers (Revelation 3:20).
Revelation 19:8-9 invites believers to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let him who thirsts, come. Whoever desires, let him drink the water of life freely (Revelation 22:17).
God invites us to know His matchless love, to be forgiven of our sins, to walk in His grace, to have joy – which replaces sorrow with hope, to have a daily relationship with Him, to have life which is fulfilled now and life eternal with Him to come to the banquet He has prepared for those who love Him.
God’s love is revealed through His invitation to all humanity to partake of the blessings of redemption, and that is accomplished through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. He invites us – He does not force us. God, in His unconditional love, opens Himself up to being rejected by His own creation. He knows all things which means He died for people He knew would reject Him and would be lost forever because of their unbelief.
God invites us to invite our unsaved loved ones to come, to taste and see that He is good (Psalm 34:8). What will the RSVP be?
_______ No, thanks
_______ Maybe later
_______ It’s not for me
_______ Yes!
Please feel free to share God’s invitation to eternal life with others. Let’s be fishers of men and dine together at His banquet!